Horry County Infrastructure & Regulation Committee Meeting - February 11, 2025

On February 11, 2025, the Horry County Infrastructure & Regulation Committee convened to discuss forest management, an update from RJ Corman Railroad, aligning board term expirations, and several resolutions and ordinances. The meeting began with an invocation and pledge, followed by approval of the agenda and minutes. No public comments were received.

Consent Calendar

• Road and Drainage Acceptances: Unanimously approved acceptance of roads and drainage in Cameron Village Phase 2A3, Forestbrook Estates Phase 5, Glasgow Village, and Ridgefield Phases 1, 2, and 3 into the County maintenance system, as recommended by staff.
• Resolution Designating Government Communicators Day: Approved unanimously to designate February 21, 2025, as Government Communicators Day in Horry County.
• Resolution Approving Transfer of Bond Funds: Approved the transfer of $467,729.45 from bond issuance costs, $843,000.76 from interest income, and savings from three fire stations ($116,249.21, $41,875.40, $41,875.39) to fund $700,000 for Animal Care Center additions, $611,729.21 for Public Works Complex expansion, and $200,000 for Prestwick Fire Station preconstruction design.
• Resolution to Transfer Funds from New Town Park to Carolina Forest Expansion: Tabled at the request of a council member who wished to explore alternative uses such as the Rails-to-Trails project.
• Resolution Approving Bylaws and Three-Year Budget for Horry County Community Land Trust: Approved unanimously, designating $241,819.88 from ARPA interest and $1,869,914.00 from developer fee excess interest for affordable workforce housing. The CLT will be governed by a tri-partite board.
• Resolution Identifying East Coast Greenway as Capital Improvement Project: Approved the transfer of $274,023.51 from impact fees for trails to the East Coast Greenway Phase 1 project, with a $1.34 million SC DOT grant requiring a $335,075 local match.
• Resolution Authorizing Transfer of Consulting Expenditure Budget: Approved the transfer of up to $100,000 from consulting budget to secure federal and state funding assistance for the RIDE 4 transportation initiative.
• Resolution Allocating Tree Mitigation Funds: Approved two allocations: $21,630.92 to Carolina Forest Middle of the Road for median landscaping and mulching, and $3,375 to Beautify Carolina Forest for median maintenance, both from tree mitigation fees.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public input was provided.

Discussion Items

• Forest Management/Timber Cutting: Representatives from the South Carolina Forestry Commission and Forestry Association discussed the balance between sustainable forestry and development. They noted that the state's Right to Practice Forestry Act limits local restrictions on forestry operations. Options presented included a one-year development delay after final harvest (as in Greenville County) or up to a five-year building permit deferral (as in Beaufort County) for violations of local regulations. Council members expressed interest in increasing the 18-month hold period for development after clear-cutting and exploring buffer requirements. Staff will draft an ordinance incorporating these ideas for the next meeting.
• 2024 RJ Corman Carolina Line Update: Adam Boyle, Senior Director of Commercial Development, reported a 20% growth in carloads year-over-year, reaching 10,000 carloads in 2024, with 18 customers on the line. The railroad has 13-14 miles leased from Horry County. He noted efforts to address issues with the Conway swing bridge and no major projects planned for 2025. Council members appreciated the reduction in truck traffic (estimated 40,000-50,000 truckloads avoided).
• Aligning Board/Committee/Commission Term Expirations with Councilmember Terms: Discussion centered on allowing new council members to appoint or reappoint board members within six months of taking office. Council members favored reducing terms from four to two years to allow for accountability and flexibility. The proposal includes all boards (Planning Commission, Library Board, etc.) and will be drafted for a future meeting.

Key Outcomes

• Forest Management Ordinance: Staff will draft an ordinance to increase the development hold period after clear-cutting and consider buffer requirements, with input from the Forestry Commission. To be presented at a future meeting.
• Board Term Alignment: Committee directed staff to draft an ordinance reducing board member terms to two years, with a six-month transition period for new council members, and allowing removal by the appointing council member and majority council vote.
• Hwy 544 Overlay Ordinance (removing Dick Pond Road): Deferred to allow council members to discuss with the district's representative.
• Heavy Manufacturing Ordinance (adding general grinding operations): Approved unanimously. The amendment clarifies that general grinding operations (e.g., mulching, concrete recycling) are permitted in Heavy Industrial (HI) and MA3 districts, subject to existing noise ordinances.
• Conveyance of Excess Right-of-Way to The Lakes POA: Approved unanimously, authorizing the County Administrator to execute a quitclaim deed for unused portions of access roads.
• Executive Session: The committee entered executive session to discuss contractual arrangements involving airport facilities and legal advice. No decisions or votes were taken.